<p>Hi all,
This is my 1st post, and I have yet to gone through all the previous threads, so do pardon me if my questions are redundant and asked many times before.</p>
<p>I'm based in Asia and has 6 years of high tech engineer experience. After being in my job for many years, I've decided that engineering is not the life I want 5-10 years from now. A career change is desired. I've always have interest in finance and banking (unfortunetely not account). </p>
<p>So the few options I've gathered from different crowds indicated 2 popular routes. Firstly, get a CFA and since it's self studied, you can get prepared for Level 1 while still working.
Another is to get an MBA. I was advised that to switch field (eg engineering to finance), it's only worthwhile to get into top business schools. Hope to get some opinions on this.</p>
<p>So my question is: is taking MBA from a good business school a good path to switch field? While I know top schools takes in students with myriads of background, what about the firms/companies. Example, a Wharton MBA graduate from engineering/non-finance background applying to Goldmann Sach, will he be at a disadvantage compared to another graduates with finance/account background ?</p>
<p>I'd guesstimate that 1/2 of all MBA students are career switchers. 30% or more of MBA students come from a technical background (ie engineering or IT).</p>
<p>Jobs in Private Equity, VC, and Hedge Funds will likely require a background in Finance. However, Ibanking jobs and other finance related jobs are available to all. Those with finance backgrounds will have the easiest opportunity to make excellent grades which is only a factor if the school releases grades to employers. Those with finance backgrounds will tend to have an advantage for Ibanking but in reality if you are going to a good school, such jobs will be quite attainable with any background (just need to dedicate yourself in that 1st semester of school).</p>
<p>Mgt/Strategy Consulting is a very highly sought after field which gives finance guys no advantage. Those with previous consulting experience will have an advantage here. Also, those with engineering backgrounds have an advantage in landing Operations Strategy positions. </p>
<p>However, in the end your success will be more determined by the effort you put forward, how well you perform in interviews, and the connections you make.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot, VectorWega. That helps a lot :)</p>
<p>@ VectorWega</p>
<p>What areas would you say most humanities/social science (minus economics) majors go into in business school? Marketing? General Management?</p>